The owners of a Porth based livery stable claim that horse owners, including many youngsters, will suffer if they are forced to close.

Husband and wife Susan and Wayne Jones own Llwyncelyn Farm where the Ynysybwl branch of the Pony Club, which accommodates 34 horses, is housed.

Mrs Jones said: 'We have been served with an enforcement order by Rhondda Cynon Taf council which says we have to stop using the stables.

'We have been told that we have breached planning control and also that the approach roads to the stables are not up to the required standard.

'This is not the case because in 2004 the council highways department confirmed that the roads meet the standards.'

Mrs Jones said that in the early 1990s when the government encouraged farmers to diversify their business or go under they decided convert a building into a stable block and by 1994 the work was completed.

She said: 'We have made considerable investment in this venture without any grant aid.

'All the horses are only kept in the stables overnight from November to April while the reminder of the year they are out to grass day and night.'

The couple are awaiting the outcome of an appeal but if the closure goes ahead many of the horses will have to be sold.

She said: 'Under planning law businesses which have been established for more than 10 years should be granted what is called a Lawful Development Certificate, which overrides the need to apply for planning consent.

'We have many young riders who will be heartbroken if they lose their horses and ponies.'

In 2003 the couple invested £60,000 in a planned 4x4 Off Road Riding Tuition and Quad Bike Centre at the farm but the council turned down the planning application.

The couple appealed against the decision but it was rejected.

Mrs Jones said: 'It seems that people want to object to any developments on the farm but they are not so quick to complain when there is an accident which blocks the main road in Hopkinstown and traffic is diverted up Hafod Lane and through our private farm road.'

Porth councillor Julie Williams said: 'There has been concerns by residents living near the farm about what they feel is an increase in traffic to the farm.

'Having said that you have to consider that farm owners these days have to diversify and although I am not in favour of an increase in traffic because of developments at the farm, I support Mr and Mrs Jones in their appeal against the decision.'

A Rhondda Cynon Taf spokeswoman said: 'A livery stable has operated on this site for a number of years without planning permission.

'The owners applied for a Certificate of Lawfulness for the business and this was refused.

'We then issued an enforcement notice to discuss the livery use.

'The owners have appealed to the National Assembly against the decision and a public enquiry into the matter is scheduled for March 20 and 21'.